Amazon discontinues its TikTok-like feed for discovering new products
What's the story
Amazon has officially killed 'Inspire,' a TikTok-like feature for finding new products in its mobile app.
A company spokesperson confirmed the development to TechCrunch.
"We regularly evaluate various features to better align with what customers tell us matters most, and as part of that, Inspire is no longer available," the spokesperson said.
Feature impact
Inspire's role and potential as a TikTok alternative
Launched in 2022, Inspire was meant to help users discover products via short-form videos and photos from influencers, brands, as well as other customers.
The discontinuation comes at a time when TikTok is facing uncertainties in the US market.
This could have made Inspire an alternative for American shoppers looking for product reviews from TikTokers.
Strategic alliances
Social media partnerships and 'Inspire' controversy
Despite Inspire's shutdown, Amazon has partnered with other social media platforms.
In November 2023, it worked with Instagram to enable shopping directly from the Meta-owned app.
At the same time, a partnership was established with Snap to allow purchases from social ads.
However, Inspire drew criticism in August 2023 when Amazon offered select influencers $12,500 for up to 500 videos or $25 per qualifying video - a move many creators deemed underpaid.
Future plans
Amazon's alternative sources of inspiration
Amazon's spokesperson highlighted other sources where customers can find inspiration, like the firm's creator storefronts and curated collections. They also mentioned new AI features like Rufus, a shopping assistant launched last year.